Irish journal of medical science
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Review Case Reports
Transient derangements in Hepatitis B serology in patients post-intravenous immunoglobulin therapy-a case-based review.
Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is a commonly utilized therapy in multiple medical subspecialities, indicated for the management of various primary and secondary immunodeficiency states and autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. A lack of awareness exists among clinicians regarding the serological downstream effects of its use. An observed phenomenon post-IVIg is the passive transfer of antibodies from the product which can lead to transiently positive hepatitis B serology in recipients. ⋯ Three patients encountered in the hematology department of a tertiary referral hospital developed spurious hepatitis B serology after administration of IVIg, whose cases are briefly outlined here. These cases highlight the need for routine pre-treatment viral screening and emphasize the importance of clinicians recognizing such potentially confounding results. This is of particular relevance to the sizeable subset of hematology patients who are planned for future immunomodulatory treatment (such as rituximab), where previous hepatitis B infection can often be a barrier to timely treatment.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The effect of spinal manipulation on brain neurometabolites in chronic nonspecific low back pain patients: a randomized clinical trial.
In patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain (NCLBP), brain function changes due to the neuroplastic changes in different regions. ⋯ In the patient with low back pain, spinal manipulation affects the central nervous system and changes the brain metabolites. Consequently, pain and functional disability are reduced.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Comparison of analgesic effect, knee joint function recovery, and safety profiles between pre-operative and post-operative administrations of meloxicam in knee osteoarthritis patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty.
This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of pre-operative and post-operative meloxicam administration regarding post-operative pain control and knee joint function recovery in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA). ⋯ Pre-operative administration of meloxicam might assist the post-operative pain management and care in KOA patients who underwent TKA.
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A feature of contemporary obstetrics in wealthy countries has been both the continuing increase in caesarean section (CS) rates and the emergence of high levels of maternal obesity. ⋯ The study found that although the prevalence of being overweight or obese changed little over the period, the odds of having a CS if a woman is obese have increased for multiparas. For nulliparas, increasing CS rates were found to be strongly associated with an increase in maternal age over the period which is important because of the evidence that Irish women are choosing to defer having their first baby until later in life.